title: Synesthesia for color is linked to improved color perception but reduced motion perception.
abstract: Synesthesia is a rare condition in which one property of a stimulus (e.g., shape) triggers a secondary percept (e.g., color) not typically associated with the first. Work on synesthesia has predominantly focused on confirming the authenticity of synesthetic experience, but much less research has been conducted to examine the extent to which synesthesia is linked to broader perceptual differences. In the research reported here, we examined whether synesthesia is associated with differences in color and motion processing by comparing these abilities in synesthetes who experience color as their evoked sensation with nonsynesthetic participants. We show that synesthesia for color is linked to facilitated color sensitivity but decreased motion sensitivity. These findings are discussed in relation to the neurocognitive mechanisms of synesthesia and interactions between color and motion processing in typical adults.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths College, University of London.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Banissy
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tester
authors.forename: Neil G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Muggleton
authors.forename: Agnieszka B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Janik
authors.forename: Aimee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davenport
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000080311:Synesthesia; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: color perception; motion perception; perception